For many smart businesses maintaining an online presence is another finger on their company marketing glove. Everybody knows using the internet as a marketing tool has great potential to build your business. People search online all day for everything. The question is how can you make the web really work for you?

Well here are a few tips on simple steps to help you get more web based emails, more phone calls and more new business:

If you don’t have a website, get one. Even a simple four – five page website will serve you better than none at all, and offers your business a “stake in the ground” position from which you’ll be able to build your on-line presence over time. Like they say “you have to be in it to win it!” and without even a basic website you’re just not even in the game.

If you have a website, promote it. Spread the word, market it, call attention to it and generate traffic that will eventually convert into your new customers. To that end be sure to promote your website’s URL (the “www” info at the top of every web page). Promote it by including that “www” info on your business cards, on your letter head, on your emails and in every way possible, even through networking conversations.

Got your social media going? For most that means setting up a Facebook company page, could include Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have videos then you may also consider postings on YouTube. In today’s world social media is where websites were 10 years ago, so follow the example of the mega national marketers. Have a look at what they’re doing in social media, and while you may not have the resources of a Pizza Hut or Coke you can easily get yourself into the social media mix locally – then promote it as you would your website!

These are very basic steps to take to begin making the web work for you. There are lots more tactics that can be utilized to grow your online business leads such as SEO, email marketing, pay-per-click advertising and group buying to name a few. Running your business takes a lot of your time and attention so it is understandable if you don’t have the inclination or experience to undertake these steps.

But if you want to make the web work for you and cannot do it yourself there are alternatives. You may wish to talk with companies that specialize in these areas, companies such as ours. Why not give us a call and talk about your needs and see where we can help out.

Just came upon another excellent article about website marketing that I want to share – although this article provides the blue print for the work we do for FindMyLocalBiz clients we feel reading this information will enable a deeper understanding of how complex and detailed website marketing truly is.

Recently a prospective local business owner whose existing website is not performing to expectations approached us for a proposal to update and revise their website to current market conditions regarding content density, keyword phrases, search engine optimization (SEO). An analysis also showed the need for revising the site navigation so that each content page would be no more than 2 clicks away at any given time – now it can take as much as four clicks to locate and access desired content on her site.

As we discussed their content revisions, design options and time frames, they casually asked a very telling question… “will redoing my website turn my business around?”

The question clearly implies that the state of their business is not strong. More importantly, how to answer that question – truthfully or with an answer she wanted to hear?

It would have been easy (and short range in our thinking) to simply say “yes, a revised website will turn your business around” to quickly close the deal. But all our sales training says be truthful, even when it is a harder road to take.

And so to answer her question, we explained to her clearly that a redesigned website (or any website for that matter) should not be expected to be the only source of new business, rather it is another arrow in the quiver of local business marketing. A well designed website works in conjunction with current print ad campaigns, store signage, direct mail, radio advertising, in-store customer experience, business cards and even PPC (pay per click) advertising campaigns. When done correctly, each part of the marketing puzzle works in support of the others, delivering similar messages, building the brand and attracting customers and clients to your business.

She understood. The asked us to have a look at all the things she’s doing and tell her if it all ties together as it should, which we are in the process of doing now. We earned a larger piece of her business now as both web designers AND marketing consultants; She’ll get a complete analysis or her marketing strategies and tactics as well as an up-to-date well designed business website aligned with all the aspects of her business.

OK, as a business owner you’ve got your site up and running, maybe you’ve just added a new page or product info. Now all you have to do is wait for customers to find you in online searches. Well unfortunately it isn’t that simple. Kevin Costner in Field Of Dreams was wrong, just because you build it does not mean they’ll come.

Like everything else in this life, if you want it you’ll have to work for it. The good news is that submission of your site to the major search engines is not too difficult.

Simply put for the search engines to be able to include your site in their search engine results pages (SERPS)they have to know you’re there. Here are the easy steps you need to do to get your site indexed, just follow the links and the step-by-step instructions they provide:

We recently published an article about the value of using analytic reports to better understand activities on any given website and how to utilize the data to enhance a site’s performance. Read that article here, then let us know what you think about this.

When we build sites for clients at FindMyLocalBiz.com we always make site NAV a focus point, ensure all content is no more than 2 clicks away from any page and that the user will always get to their desired content as easily and naturally as possible. Clear and intuitive site navigation is essential to ensuring a good user experience on your site.

We listen to our clients, respond to their needs, educate them about good Internet marketing tactics and ultimately follow their leads (the client is always right!). Luckily for us we have smart clients, and after open discussions we’ve always been able to reach a satisfactory agreement that addresses the clients desires while meeting good Internet marketing tactics.